Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald ash borer (EA, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. Emerald ash borer probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia. Emerald ash borer is also established in Windsor, Ontario, was found in Ohio in 2003, northern Indiana in 2004, northern Illinois and Maryland in 2006, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia in 2007, and Wisconsin, Missouri and Virginia in summer 2008. Since its discovery, EAB has:

• Killed more than 40 million ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone, with tens of millions more lost in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Missouri, Wisconsin and Virginia.
• Caused regulatory agencies and the USDA to enforce quarantines (Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin) and fines to prevent potentially infested ash trees, logs or hardwood firewood from moving out of areas where EAB occurs.
• Cost municipalities, property owners, nursery operators and forest products industries tens of millions of dollars.

Article Provided By: www.emeraldashborer.info

"We really hit the jackpot in finding this plant site," Milner said.

Researchers are still trying to understand what happened there after cataclysmic extinctions that wiped out scores of plants, reptiles, insects and amphibians.

Species that returned in the early Jurassic had to eat something, and plants were likely part of that diet, Kirkland said. It's still unclear how the plants being excavated in St. George fit into that puzzle.

"We've got a lot to learn," Kirkland said.

With the topsoil peeled back, crews have been going through the dirt by hand, looking for hard-to-find fossils and cutting out slabs with good material.

"You've got to really look hard to spot these things," Milner said.

Two plant slabs will be preserved and presented at the Dinosaur Discovery Site, he said.

Specimens have been requested by researchers elsewhere, including those at the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, the Smithsonian and the Museum of Natural History in New York.

Following are the most urgent policy prescriptions necessary to maximize the likelihood of a habitable biosphere and minimize human death as a result of collapsing ecosystems. They are listed in order of importance. To have any chance of averting global apocalypse these sorts of policies must be implemented with all haste. Your comments are welcome regarding this list and avenues for implementation - which will be enumerated further as the project progresses.

No. 1 - POPULATION - Human populations surpass what the Earth can bear. We must stabilize and then reduce human population to at most a third current levels. Global limits must be placed on the number of children born, using incentives at first such as tax benefits for smaller families. Humanity can reduce population on their own accord or the Earth will do so for us.

No. 2 - GREENHOUSE GASES - Abrupt runaway climate change is happening now as energy costs the Earth dearly. Greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by at least 70% as soon as possible. Maintaining an operable atmosphere requires phasing out coal and oil, introducing a substantial carbon tax, investing in renewable energy, and rigorously pursuing conservation and efficiency. No large-scale new energy systems such as nuclear or biofuel until shown to be environmentally benign in the long-term.

No. 3 - PROTECT ECOSYSTEMS - Large, connected and strictly protected ecosystems over much of the land and sea are a prerequisite for provision of air, water, biodiversity, soil and other services upon which life depends. Large protected marine areas must be established, ending industrial fishing. And ancient forest logging must end, strictly protecting remaining intact natural habitats.

No. 4 - CONSUMPTION - Excessive resource use to meet frivolous human wants must be restricted by promoting a consumption ethic that stresses voluntary simplicity and a sense of "enoughness", and laws that minimize impacts. Simple reforms such as standardizing consumer packaging and making all waste recyclable will reduce necessary consumption's impacts.

No. 5 - AGRICULTURE - A transition must be made to sustainable agricultural practices and eating habits with the emphasis upon organic, non-GMO, low meat diets that are locally produced. Eating habits impact virtually all ecosystems, resulting in natural forest clearing, toxic food chains, depleted water, soil loss and reduction of ecosystems' ability to hold carbon.

No. 6 - SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIES - Economic systems are a subset of ecological systems and as such all economic activities must maintain or expand natural capital. Growth that destroys natural capital is not sustainable, and growth as a measure of economic activity is an ecological malignancy. A steady state, sustainable economy must be business, industry and humanity's goal.

No. 7 - GREEN TECHNOLOGY - Technology by itself cannot bring sustainability, but clean and green technologies are important and provide huge economic opportunities. There is tremendous potential for development of energy efficient, more sustainable and fully recyclable buildings, products and services (including hybrid cars and fluorescent lightbulbs). But the use and trade of toxic chemicals must end.

No. 8 - ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION - Too many ecosystems have already been lost and diminished for humanity to persist. Achieving sustainability and preparing for post collapse societies depends upon targeted restoration of important ecosystems. Priorities for ecological restoration include watersheds, establishing ecological core areas and urban environments.

No. 9 - POVERTY- Billions living in desperate poverty is unethical and damages the environment. All cannot live like Americans, but if the Earth's wealth is shared we can all live well. The focus must be upon the overdeveloped world living more simply, sustainable development, equitable and just political and economic systems, and green technology transfer.

No. 10 - DEMILITARIZATION - Increasingly conflicts over resources fuel militarism and insurgency. Military budgets divert resources from crucial social and environmental investments, and must be slashed. Lasting security that is equitable, just and sustainable

It also got an opportunity, Mayor John Janssen says.

This rural county seat 109 miles west of Wichita has made "green" its rebuilding mantra, declaring itself a national model for environmentally conscious living — and winning attention and resources in the process.

"The tornado was one of the biggest blessings to hit our town," Janssen says. "We were like every other town in the Rust Belt and the Midwest. We were dying a slow, agonizing death. Suddenly, we don't have a town. So we're rebuilding a new green town."

The decision to rebuild in an environment-friendly manner is not just about feeling good, he says. Environmentally conscious design can cost more up front, but the costs are made up through energy savings, he says. The city hopes to attract new residents and businesses committed to green living.

"We've got green industry that has been looking for a green community to locate into," he says. He didn't go into specifics. "The contacts we've made boggle the imagination."

About 1,400 people lived in Greensburg before the twister, working mostly in agriculture, oil, gas and trucking. The town's main attractions were "the world's largest hand-dug well" and a 1,000-pound meteorite. Both survived.

After most of the homes and businesses were wiped out, the population fell to about 700, says Kim Alderfer, assistant city administrator. About 140 families live in Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers, and 141 homes are under construction or completed. The water tower went up in March.

Benefits of Water-Fuel Conversions

There are a variety of benefits of water-fuel conversions, both in terms of convenience and in terms of cost-savings:

• To drive your vehicle more miles per tank of gas.
• To reduce emission-related pollution.
• To improve fuel efficiency with a "reversible" conversion.
• To laugh at rising gas prices and be the envy of your friends and neighbors!

However, the information to do so is usually expensive and hard to find. Plus, it's difficult to know which information to trust. So, which water-fuel conversion kit manual is best? There are several factors to consider in picking the best conversion kit guide. The first factor is whether the technology works. There are a number of conversion plans floating around the internet that either don't work, or are extremely difficult to understand. However, other guides we reviewed provide exceptional simplicity and dramatically improve fuel efficiency. Another factor to consider is cost. While most H2O conversion-kit guides cost around $400, the necessary supplies alone can sometimes exceed $500.

Fortunately, we've been able to find a handful of effective conversion-kit guides that are not only affordable, but also use low-cost materials.

According to our surveys, RunYourCarWithWater offers the best value for vehicle conversion to water power. They provide an ideal balance of low price, easy-to-follow directions, and excellent results. We were most impressed with the affordable materials the directions required. As of our last price check on 4/12/2008, they are running an excellent limited time promotion. Their current conversion guide is being offered for $49.97 instead of their regular $297 price. However, there a variety of choices available for converting your car into a water hybrid. In choosing a service, it is important to compare features, because the complexity of the instructions, overall cost, and quality of results varies significantly between services.

The following reviews are based on our survey study with over 500 respondents who have used some or all of these conversion guides, combined with our research panel’s own first hand testing of each service. If you have used any of the services below, please contact us at support@articleanswer.com, and we will factor your feedback into our ongoing reviews.